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Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Boston, MA (NOW HIRING)

Principal Software Engineer

Mansfield, MA · On-site +1

$142K - $191K/yr

As a Principal Full Stack Software Engineer , you will be a technical leader within the elluminate Product Development team. You'll help design and build the core services and user experiences of a ...

Principal Software Engineer

Mansfield, MA · On-site

$142K - $191K/yr

As a Principal Full Stack Software Engineer , you will be a technical leader within the elluminate Product Development team. You'll help design and build the core services and user experiences of a ...

Principal Software Engineer

Mansfield, MA · On-site +1

$142K - $191K/yr

As a Principal Full Stack Software Engineer , you will be a technical leader within the elluminate Product Development team. You'll help design and build the core services and user experiences of a ...

Principal Software Engineer

Waltham, MA · Hybrid

$145K - $195K/yr

Xometry is looking for a Principal Software Engineer to join our Partner Ecosystems team. This team builds the high-performance integration layer that embeds Xometry's AI-native marketplace directly ...

Principal Software Engineer

Waltham, MA · On-site

$200K - $225K/yr

Xometry is looking for a Principal Software Engineer to join our Partner Ecosystems team. This team builds the high-performance integration layer that embeds Xometry's AI-native marketplace directly ...

Principal Software Engineer

Boston, MA · On-site

$146K - $196K/yr

We're looking for a Principal Software Engineer, a person trusted with our hardest, highest-leverage technical problems. This is a dual-mandate role: you are both a multiplier for the team who raises ...

Principal Software Engineer

Boston, MA · On-site +1

$146K - $196K/yr

We're looking for a Principal Software Engineer, a person trusted with our hardest, highest-leverage technical problems. This is a dual-mandate role: you are both a multiplier for the team who raises ...

Showing results 41-60

Principal Software Engineer information

See Boston, MA salary details

$65.7K

$174.8K

$250.9K

How much do principal software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software engineer in Boston, MA is $174,832.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $146,700.00 and $196,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a principal software engineer?

A principal software engineer is in charge of software development. In this career, you guide the software design process and inspect software programs to make suggestions for improvements. Principal software engineers also process complex data and may need to enforce software design, development, and maintenance requirements. Your job requires a high level of technical knowledge and skills and a thorough understanding of the software development process. Your employer may require you to have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in software development. Similar job titles include software architect and principal software developer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a principal software engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Principal Software Engineer, you need deep expertise in software architecture, programming languages, and system design, often supported by a bachelor's or master's degree in computer science or a related field. Advanced proficiency with development frameworks, cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure), and familiarity with DevOps tools and agile methodologies are typically required. Exceptional leadership, mentorship, and communication skills help facilitate cross-functional collaboration and guide technical teams. These skills are crucial for driving technical vision, ensuring scalable solutions, and fostering innovation within complex projects.

How does a principal software engineer typically balance hands-on coding with leadership responsibilities?

Principal Software Engineers often split their time between technical contributions—such as designing system architecture and reviewing complex code—and guiding teams through mentorship, technical direction, and cross-functional collaboration. While they may not code as much as junior engineers, they remain highly involved in critical implementations and code reviews. Balancing these responsibilities requires strong time management, clear communication, and the ability to prioritize tasks that have the highest impact on project and team success.

What is the difference between Principal Software Engineer vs Senior Software Engineer?

AspectPrincipal Software EngineerSenior Software Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in CS or related field; extensive experienceBachelor's or Master's in CS; several years of experience
Work EnvironmentLeadership roles, strategic planning, cross-team collaborationDesign, develop, and troubleshoot software; mentorship
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, large enterprises, startupsMost industries, including tech, finance, healthcare

The main difference between a Principal Software Engineer and a Senior Software Engineer lies in their level of responsibility and scope. Principal Software Engineers typically lead technical strategy, influence architecture decisions, and mentor multiple teams, whereas Senior Software Engineers focus on coding, design, and individual project contributions. Both roles require strong technical skills, but the Principal role emphasizes leadership and strategic impact.

How much does a principal software engineer get paid?

A principal software engineer typically earns between $120,000 and $180,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and company size. They often have advanced skills in software architecture, leadership, and technical expertise in programming languages and tools.

What are popular job titles related to Principal Software Engineer jobs in Boston, MA?

For Principal Software Engineer jobs in Boston, MA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities near Boston, MA are hiring for Principal Software Engineer jobs?

Cities near Boston, MA with the most Principal Software Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Principal Software Engineer job openings in Boston, MA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 50% In-person, and 50% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $174,832 per year, or $84.1 per hour.

Principal Software Engineer

eClinical Solutions

Mansfield, MA • On-site, Remote

$142K - $191K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 28 days ago


Job description

About eClinical Solutions
eClinical Solutions is transforming clinical development with elluminate®, our Clinical Data Cloud, helping life sciences organizations unify, analyze, and unlock the value of their data faster than ever before. By combining a modern cloud platform with expert data services, we empower smarter decisions across the clinical trial lifecycle-accelerating innovation that ultimately improves patient outcomes.
Our engineering teams build enterprise-grade, revenue-generating products at the intersection of cloud, data, analytics, and emerging AI technologies. If you're excited about building sophisticated software that makes a real-world impact on healthcare, this is the place to do it.
You will make an impact:
As a Principal Full Stack Software Engineer, you will be a technical leader within the elluminate Product Development team. You'll help design and build the core services and user experiences of a next-generation clinical data and analytics platform-while influencing architecture, engineering standards, and technical direction.
This role is ideal for an experienced engineer who enjoys hands-on development, mentoring others, and bringing modern capabilities-including AI-assisted and agentic workflows-into production-grade systems.
Your day to day:
  • Design, develop, test, and deploy scalable, secure, and highly interactive web applications
  • Own and evolve core platform modules, from concept through release and support
  • Influence application and system architecture with a focus on performance, reliability, security, and maintainability
  • Lead by example through clean, well-tested code, thoughtful design reviews, and pragmatic technical decisions
  • Collaborate closely with Product Management, QA, and other engineers throughout the SDLC
  • Provide technical mentorship and guidance to other engineers on the team
  • Diagnoses and resolves complex production issues across distributed systems
  • Ensure solutions meet eClinical Solutions quality standards and applicable industry regulations
  • Contribute to technical documentation including design specs, acceptance criteria, and release notes

AI & Modern Engineering Focus
We're actively incorporating AI-powered capabilities into our platform, and you'll help shape how this is done responsibly and effectively in an enterprise environment. This includes:
  • Integrating LLMs and AI services into .NET- and Python-based systems
  • Designing and implementing AI-assisted workflows, copilots, or intelligent automation features
  • Working with agentic AI patterns (e.g., task orchestration, tool-using agents, workflow automation)
  • Applying prompt engineering, evaluation techniques, and guardrails to ensure reliability and compliance
  • Collaborating with data and platform teams to operationalize AI-not just prototype it

Deep ML expertise is not required-we're looking for strong engineers who understand how to apply AI capabilities in real products.
Take the first step toward your dream career. Here is what we are looking for in this role.
Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or equivalent practical experience
  • 10+ years in software design and development using the Microsoft technology stack preferred
  • Expert-level proficiency in C#, .NET, and ASP.NET (MVC/Web APIs)
  • Strong experience building full-stack web applications (Angular, TypeScript, HTML, CSS)
  • Solid understanding of software design principles, patterns, and best practices
  • Experience across the full Software Development Lifecycle (Agile preferred)
  • Proven ability to work independently while collaborating effectively in a fast-paced environment
  • Excellent communication, documentation, and technical leadership skills

AI & Platform Experience
  • Hands-on experience integrating LLM-based services (e.g., OpenAI, Azure OpenAI, or similar) into applications
  • Experience using Python and/or .NET alongside AI/LLM workflows
  • Familiarity with agent-based or workflow-driven AI architectures is a strong plus
  • Understanding of secure and responsible AI usage in enterprise systems

Nice to Have
  • Strong SQL expertise (Microsoft SQL Server preferred), including performance tuning
  • Experience with microservices, distributed systems, and cloud platforms (AWS preferred)
  • Secure development experience, including awareness of common vulnerabilities and mitigations
  • Experience with clinical trial data, life sciences, or regulated SaaS environments
  • Experience building data visualizations or analytics-driven user experiences

AI Use Statement
Employees are expected to appropriately leverage company-approved AI tools to improve productivity and quality while adhering to company policies, protecting confidential information, validating AI-generated content, and exercising sound professional judgment. AI is intended to augment-not replace-professional judgment, critical thinking, accountability, and decision-making. Accountability for all work remains with the employee.
Accelerate your skills and career within a fast-growing company while impacting the future of healthcare. We have shared our story, now we look forward to learning yours!
eClinical is a winner of the 2025 Top Workplaces USA Award for Remote Work! We have also received numerous Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Awards celebrating our exceptional company vision, values, and work-life balance. See all the details here: https://topworkplaces.com/company/eclinical-solutions/
eClinical Solutions is a people first organization. Our inclusive culture values the contribution that diversity brings to our business. We celebrate individual experiences that connect us and that inspire innovation in our community. Our team seeks out opportunities to learn, grow and continuously improve. Bring your authentic self, you are welcome here!
We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer that values diversity. Our management team is committed to the principle that employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, culture fit and business need.
#LI-AB1
Pay Range
US Pay Ranges
$152,000-$190,000 USD